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A lot was made about the results of Sam Bradford's pro day. Some said it was the best they'd seen in a while; I believe Gil Brandt said it was the best one he'd watched since Troy Aikman.
The reaction and the groundswell of momentum Sam has received because of this event makes me scratch my head a little. Were people legitimately nervous that he wouldn't look good throwing the football? Did they think he wouldn't be healthy at this workout?
Some will argue that Bradford's pro day was so important because it's the first time we've seen him throw since his surgery. That's fine, but again I ask, did anyone expect him to hold a pro day if he wasn't going to throw well or if he wasn't recovered? I really don't think so.
Pro days aren't exactly designed to make the prospects look bad, especially the top guys. They're heavily scripted and prepared for. It shouldn't be shocking or draft board altering when a top prospect puts on a good pro day. In shorts and a t-shirt, the expectation is that he's going to look good.
Case in point - I present two articles for consideration, and while you're reading, I'd like for you to consider how much emphasis should be put on a pro day? Does a great pro day necessary correlate to greatness at the pro level?
We start with a blast from the past, as Yahoo's Charles Robinson reports on the stellar pro day of Utah quarterback Alex Smith...
And now, USA Today details a pro day two years after Smith's, traveling to Baton Rouge to report on the outstanding workout of JaMarcus Russell...
ESPN's Todd McShay said at the time of the workout that, in his ten years of scouting, Russell's was the best pro day he'd ever seen from a quarterback.
Now, let's get the disclaimer out of the way. I'm not trying to bash Bradford or suggest his good pro day means he's going to fail at the NFL level. I'm not suggesting his career will mirror that of Russell or Smith, though I think there are some valid comparisons to be made to Smith, truth be told.
Rather, my point is that a great pro day - even one heralded as one of the best so-and-so has ever seen - isn't something to go gaga over. Both of these pro days were said to have really cemented Smith and Russell in as the top picks of their respective drafts. But if you're making your mind up on a prospect based on his pro day, then I think you may be putting too much emphasis on the event itself and not enough emphasis in other places.
I'd love to hear some thoughts.
The reaction and the groundswell of momentum Sam has received because of this event makes me scratch my head a little. Were people legitimately nervous that he wouldn't look good throwing the football? Did they think he wouldn't be healthy at this workout?
Some will argue that Bradford's pro day was so important because it's the first time we've seen him throw since his surgery. That's fine, but again I ask, did anyone expect him to hold a pro day if he wasn't going to throw well or if he wasn't recovered? I really don't think so.
Pro days aren't exactly designed to make the prospects look bad, especially the top guys. They're heavily scripted and prepared for. It shouldn't be shocking or draft board altering when a top prospect puts on a good pro day. In shorts and a t-shirt, the expectation is that he's going to look good.
Case in point - I present two articles for consideration, and while you're reading, I'd like for you to consider how much emphasis should be put on a pro day? Does a great pro day necessary correlate to greatness at the pro level?
We start with a blast from the past, as Yahoo's Charles Robinson reports on the stellar pro day of Utah quarterback Alex Smith...
Pro day report: Alex Smith
By Charles Robinson, Yahoo! Sports
March 16, 2005
Utah quarterback Alex Smith followed in the footsteps of Auburn's Ronnie Brown and USC's Mike Williams by wowing team officials at his personal pro day in Salt Lake City on Wednesday.
One personnel source on hand said Smith had a "paramount" workout. Smith looked so good, he likely vaulted to the top of the 2005 draft's quarterback class a day before California's Aaron Rodgers responds with his personal pro day.
Throwing passes to Utah teammates and fellow draft prospects Parris Warren and Steve Savoy, Smith worked out in front of more than 60 officials, from every team in the league. The top three teams in the draft – the San Francisco *****, Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns – all had key personnel in attendance, including ***** head coach Mike Nolan, Dolphins head coach Nick Saban and Browns general manager Phil Savage. Smith apparently spent a significant amount of time with all three men in the days leading up to the workout.
What teams knew about Smith heading into his pro day was that he was smart (he scored a 40 out of 50 on the Wonderlic test), could handle a complex offense and had adequate athleticism. What they didn't know was whether he could be accurate and show top-notch velocity on his passes.
One of the chief concerns about Smith – like Jacksonville's Byron Leftwich two years ago – was that he operated a great deal out of the shotgun in college. In response, Smith demonstrated on Wednesday that he could drop from under center and still maintain good throwing mechanics. He also went through various drills to show he could throw down field with accuracy but also hit a running back in the flat.
"It was all fluid," the personnel source said. "He didn't have many problems doing things – the out [pattern], getting [the ball] deep and whatever – he looked natural. … He looked prepared. Those guys, the quarterbacks, get nervous sometimes in that situation and then they are all over the place with the ball. He didn't look that way at all.
"There was some cheering at the end. I think he got a lot of pats on the back with people walking out feeling satisfied."
By Charles Robinson, Yahoo! Sports
March 16, 2005
Utah quarterback Alex Smith followed in the footsteps of Auburn's Ronnie Brown and USC's Mike Williams by wowing team officials at his personal pro day in Salt Lake City on Wednesday.
One personnel source on hand said Smith had a "paramount" workout. Smith looked so good, he likely vaulted to the top of the 2005 draft's quarterback class a day before California's Aaron Rodgers responds with his personal pro day.
Throwing passes to Utah teammates and fellow draft prospects Parris Warren and Steve Savoy, Smith worked out in front of more than 60 officials, from every team in the league. The top three teams in the draft – the San Francisco *****, Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns – all had key personnel in attendance, including ***** head coach Mike Nolan, Dolphins head coach Nick Saban and Browns general manager Phil Savage. Smith apparently spent a significant amount of time with all three men in the days leading up to the workout.
What teams knew about Smith heading into his pro day was that he was smart (he scored a 40 out of 50 on the Wonderlic test), could handle a complex offense and had adequate athleticism. What they didn't know was whether he could be accurate and show top-notch velocity on his passes.
One of the chief concerns about Smith – like Jacksonville's Byron Leftwich two years ago – was that he operated a great deal out of the shotgun in college. In response, Smith demonstrated on Wednesday that he could drop from under center and still maintain good throwing mechanics. He also went through various drills to show he could throw down field with accuracy but also hit a running back in the flat.
"It was all fluid," the personnel source said. "He didn't have many problems doing things – the out [pattern], getting [the ball] deep and whatever – he looked natural. … He looked prepared. Those guys, the quarterbacks, get nervous sometimes in that situation and then they are all over the place with the ball. He didn't look that way at all.
"There was some cheering at the end. I think he got a lot of pats on the back with people walking out feeling satisfied."
And now, USA Today details a pro day two years after Smith's, traveling to Baton Rouge to report on the outstanding workout of JaMarcus Russell...
Russell wows scouts at LSU's pro day
By Glenn Guilbeau, Gannett News Service
BATON ROUGE — Quarterback JaMarcus Russell was the center of attention Wednesday as throngs of NFL coaches, executives and personnel directors crowded the LSU indoor practice facility to dissect the abilities of the draft-eligible Tigers on Pro Day.
One coach in particular — new Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin — could not take his eyes off the 6-foot-6, 256-pound Russell.
"Obviously, I'm very impressed," Kiffin said. "We were very impressed. He had a great day. He seems very first class, very easy to get along with. No doubt he was a great leader here. That's why everybody wants him now."
Russell, who left LSU a year early, is projected by many analysts as the first player picked in the NFL draft on April 28. The Raiders have the first pick.
"There's a chance we'll take him," Kiffin deadpanned, guaranteeing nothing. "There's a percentage chance, but I'm not giving it to you. There are always things that could happen as far as trades. We still have other guys to go see."
Russell threw passes to familiar targets Dwayne Bowe and Craig Davis, who also each have a chance to go in the first round or early in the second round. Russell had not been throwing to Bowe and Davis much since the 42-14 win over Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl because he has been in Arizona working out.
"Being away from these receivers and to come back and throw as well as he did shows who he is," Kiffin said.
Kiffin noticed how well Russell moved, too. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.8 seconds, which surprised a lot of the NFL observers, as did his weight of 256.
"He was 265 at the combine," Kiffin said. "Dropping nine pounds knowing this was a big day shows his commitment and shows that his mind's in the right place."
Russell said he could have done better.
"On some of the routes, I could've been better balanced when I was throwing," he said. "I could've thrown over the top a lot more."
Kiffin liked this attitude.
"Obviously, there's always a lot of room for improvement," he said. "That's what you want to hear a quarterback say, too."
LSU coach Les Miles looked on proudly.
"I hope that our fan base realizes what a treat it was to have a JaMarcus Russell playing quarterback for us," Miles said.
There were some rumblings among the NFL people when Russell chose not to take part in some of the agility drills. Kiffin did not fuss.
"Quarterbacks have done that before," he said. "That's not nearly as important. And I'm sure he wanted to focus on what was most important today."
Russell said he feels draft day getting closer.
"It was going slow, but now it feels like it's speeding up," he said. "And the reality of life is really coming."
A contract package in the neighborhood of $50 million could be coming for the LSU product. Quarterback Alex Smith of Utah signed for $49.5 million over six years, including $24 million of guaranteed money, when the San Francisco ***** selected him first overall in 2005.
"To be a first pick, man, it would go down in history for the caliber of players that you're announced around," Russell said.
By Glenn Guilbeau, Gannett News Service
BATON ROUGE — Quarterback JaMarcus Russell was the center of attention Wednesday as throngs of NFL coaches, executives and personnel directors crowded the LSU indoor practice facility to dissect the abilities of the draft-eligible Tigers on Pro Day.
One coach in particular — new Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin — could not take his eyes off the 6-foot-6, 256-pound Russell.
"Obviously, I'm very impressed," Kiffin said. "We were very impressed. He had a great day. He seems very first class, very easy to get along with. No doubt he was a great leader here. That's why everybody wants him now."
Russell, who left LSU a year early, is projected by many analysts as the first player picked in the NFL draft on April 28. The Raiders have the first pick.
"There's a chance we'll take him," Kiffin deadpanned, guaranteeing nothing. "There's a percentage chance, but I'm not giving it to you. There are always things that could happen as far as trades. We still have other guys to go see."
Russell threw passes to familiar targets Dwayne Bowe and Craig Davis, who also each have a chance to go in the first round or early in the second round. Russell had not been throwing to Bowe and Davis much since the 42-14 win over Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl because he has been in Arizona working out.
"Being away from these receivers and to come back and throw as well as he did shows who he is," Kiffin said.
Kiffin noticed how well Russell moved, too. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.8 seconds, which surprised a lot of the NFL observers, as did his weight of 256.
"He was 265 at the combine," Kiffin said. "Dropping nine pounds knowing this was a big day shows his commitment and shows that his mind's in the right place."
Russell said he could have done better.
"On some of the routes, I could've been better balanced when I was throwing," he said. "I could've thrown over the top a lot more."
Kiffin liked this attitude.
"Obviously, there's always a lot of room for improvement," he said. "That's what you want to hear a quarterback say, too."
LSU coach Les Miles looked on proudly.
"I hope that our fan base realizes what a treat it was to have a JaMarcus Russell playing quarterback for us," Miles said.
There were some rumblings among the NFL people when Russell chose not to take part in some of the agility drills. Kiffin did not fuss.
"Quarterbacks have done that before," he said. "That's not nearly as important. And I'm sure he wanted to focus on what was most important today."
Russell said he feels draft day getting closer.
"It was going slow, but now it feels like it's speeding up," he said. "And the reality of life is really coming."
A contract package in the neighborhood of $50 million could be coming for the LSU product. Quarterback Alex Smith of Utah signed for $49.5 million over six years, including $24 million of guaranteed money, when the San Francisco ***** selected him first overall in 2005.
"To be a first pick, man, it would go down in history for the caliber of players that you're announced around," Russell said.
Now, let's get the disclaimer out of the way. I'm not trying to bash Bradford or suggest his good pro day means he's going to fail at the NFL level. I'm not suggesting his career will mirror that of Russell or Smith, though I think there are some valid comparisons to be made to Smith, truth be told.
Rather, my point is that a great pro day - even one heralded as one of the best so-and-so has ever seen - isn't something to go gaga over. Both of these pro days were said to have really cemented Smith and Russell in as the top picks of their respective drafts. But if you're making your mind up on a prospect based on his pro day, then I think you may be putting too much emphasis on the event itself and not enough emphasis in other places.
I'd love to hear some thoughts.
I just see some important red flags.....
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